The National tribune., 1887-06-02
Department Gleanings.


UnNiIIIHg
u. Steedman May % made an eventful week for
GA X. and W.RC. circles. The ladies of Forsyth
Corps Were more than busy, and Excelsior"
never shone more brightly on their banners. "A
Tuesday at noon they served lunch in thdoDh
quet hall Of Memorial Building 10 the Mexican
Veteran Association of Ohio, Col. Robertson, of
Springfield President. About 100 sat down To the
elegant-laid tables.
Wednesday afternoon n reception was rendered
by the Corps 60 Mrs. Belle Il. Bagley, Department
President. WR.C., at the beautiful residence of
Mrs Nora Sbley Holstead sister of Mrs Emma
Sbey Pease, Corps President Among the invited
guests present were Mrs. Kate T. Putnam Depart
ment lnsttuting and Installing Officer, and her
husband, Col. d. C. Putnam, Department Com
mander GAR, who compimented the ladies by
his presence.
Wednesday evening Joint Campfire was held
at GAR. Hall in honor of Department Com
mander and Mrs. Putnam, Mrs Belle 4. Bagiey,
Department President, and her husband, COmrade
Fcnton Bagley, charter member of Hazlett Post,
GAINESVILLE, o. IL was n regular old-fashioned love
feast, Rev. DIR. Bacon, Post Commander, assisiedhy
Mrs. Emma Sbley Pease, Corps President, pTcsid-
ing. Among the speakers OF the evening were Col.
and Mrs. Putnam, Comrade aud Mrs. Baglcy,
Past Commandern Chief Kountz. Past National
President Mrs. Sherwood, Gen. Hurst, President
Ohio Centennial Commission; Past Judge Advocate
Gen. Austin, and Past Commander 4. B. Terry,
now of Kansas City. This was Mrs. Bagley's first
visit 10 Toledo, where she made many friends. She
urged Forsyth Corps To help push the good work,
believing that Ohio would add 100 Corps TO it, ros-
ter tho coming year. Col. Putnam paid handsome
tribute 10 the Relief Corps IN the course OF his re-
marks.
Past Department Commander r. b. Brown,
whose marriage to Miss Eva Waters Of Hnzlett
Corps, GAINESVILLE. had just occurred was meniion-
ed IN words OF warm commentator by the lady
speakers especially But Mrs Putnam quite capped
the climax when she referred TO Col. Browns
port 10 the Ohio Lncampment of his visit TO Relief
Corps Convention, conveying the = love OF GOO
loyal women" and turning TO Mrs. Bagley, said,
" Please convey 10 him the love OF the $3.50 re-
naming"
Thursday the ladies Of the Corps. Mrs Gen.
Young, Chairman Of the committee had charge of
the GDStUnlUn of the 81 girls who
grouped around the statue Go represent the States
the Goddess Of Liberty at the front. Little Emma
Steedman, granddaughter OF Gen. j. IL. Steedman.
was brought from the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors
Orphans Home TO unyail the statue Of her illus
trious grandsirc.
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL CHAPLAIN.
DEAR TRIBUNE: May the voice Of a stranger
speak through your columns-not a stranger 10
MR.C., neither 10 many comrades Of G.A.R.-one
who has spoken but seldom through the Press"
OF the Grand Army. This silence however has
not been occasioned by any lack in the aspirations
and inspirations for the noble work IL represents,
but have felt that there many others
Older and wiser in this work, who had a better
right TO speak and TO be heard than l.
The TRIBUNE is not stranger To me, and find
many excellent things Ia its columns. j was
pecally pleased with the editorial OF May II on
The Observance Of Memorial Day" / have
wanted 10 speak out" upon this subject for a long
time, and have, in local way, before Posts, Corps,
and IN public addresses. For several years have
delivered one or more Memorial discouTses and il
is TO me the most sacred, solemn service Of all the
year, ana always "a source OF deep regret when
observe the tendency 10 desecrate the service by
careless, unhallowed thoughts and actions The
| services and associations of this day should be
such 10 stir the tcnderest cords Of sacred MEM
DRY in the heart Of every true loyal citizen; yes
Of every man, woman and child over whom the
star spangled Banner waves its friendly protcc-
ton. Let this day be consecrated by the noblcst
achievements Of the past. the earnest, exalted ef
forts Of the present and glorious promises OF great
est good for the future. And this future good can
only be attained by rightly interpreting aud fulfill
| ing the sacred duties aud obligations Of today.
The services of this day should be both instructive
and edlfying.
If our Union s. 10 be preserved our Nation per-
petuRted, her aud her daughters must be
taught 10 love her, and we must not sleep till the
crisis come the din of battle stir action be-
fore the work Of instruction Is begun. Herein
hnd the nobcst mission ofthe W.R.C. Let her sup
plement the work Of father, husband aud brother
bringing into the Kingdom Of home the National
trlune graces. r., C. and l., which shall form an
indissOluhle link between the heart, the home the
| Nation. Then let sisters in f., e. and L.. all
over this fair land. from city, village. country re-
spond each year TO this most beautiful, sacred
service with hearts Of love and devotion for the
living and the dead. With tears of remembrance
and flowers OF beauty cover every comrades grave,
with deepest gratitude and choicest blessing crown
their lives-liey. Mary Garard, National Chaplain.
Clinton, Iowa.
DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN.
DEAR Tribune; The Relief Corps work is stIIl
| going on In Wisconsin. While ii seems that we
are crowded out Of all notice in the columns OF
/ The TRIBUNE, vet we would beg leave 10 oss,,r.
u
city, village aud County in the State that while re-
] ports from this Department, repeatedly forwarded
are not always but invariably omitted from pub
LEGATION la its columns the work is rapidly going on
We have Corps in more than 80 of our PRINCIPAL
cities auxiliary TO the largest and most prominent
! Posts OF the Grand Army Of the Republic In the
state. The reports and high Recommendations OF
their work received almost daily from the Post !
Justify la urging all Posts in the State to organize
| auxiliary Relief Corps
A great many applications for charter have been
Issued, with complete instructions for organizing
upon request Of the various Posts aud willie MANY
| have been received and Corps subsequently, orran.
! lied, still there are a great many that have not
! reported Tor further advice. We hope that the
matter may be pushed and these Posts again heard
from, particularly desire 10 repre- sent nj The
next National Convention at st. Louis 1000 Ioyol
women in our ranks We can do IL with youT
assistance II you but will.
All Posts desiring blank charter applications and
Instructions should address Headquarters, No 2ll
Mason street, Milwaukee, Wis
The largest charter application ever filed IN the
stale and we have heard of no larger la the United
States, was received from Hudson, Wis. ON the
I2th inst. Tie application bears 20 names all de.
string TO become charter members Of Edwin A
Clapp Corps No. ST. Hudson Wis Nearly an tle
applicants closely identified with the members
OF the Post aud are very earnest for the mnediat,
organization OF the Corps. We hope 20 place upon
record this Corps having the largest charter
membership Of any Corps Ia the State The rcnorI
OF the organization 81 the Corps will be given later
Mrs. Nancy Nufe President OF Nathan How
Corps, No. 81, Woodstock. Wis, writes US a mos
encouraging letier OF their work, and reports thai
on The 80 ult the Corps, 10 the number of ~ Wis
tied The regular meeting Of Samuel r. Curtiss Corps
West Lima, Wis. The visit was n most eniovai1,
one and resulted In much good for the benefit o
both Corps
the fost very pleasant sociable afer the meeting